Abstract
Water for new uses -- including development, population growth, and fishery restoration-- is in short supply in the Clark Fork Basin. Basin Closure and over-allocation (when surface water flows are less than existing water rights on a source) require that new and changed water uses develop plans to re-allocate water to eliminate depletions of surface water. Mitigation and aquifer recharge are the two primary mechanisms used to offset surface water depletions and provide a mechanism for new water uses to be permitted. But mitigation and aquifer recharge are far from simple to accomplish.
This project evaluates mitigation opportunities for three examples of new water use in the Basin: New municipal water use in the Bitterroot Basin Closure; new subdivision water use in the Middle Clark Fork where the river is over-allocated due to hydropower water rights; and an instream flow change for fishery habitat restoration in the Upper Clark Fork Basin Closure. The challenges & options for moving forward in each of these situations will be discussed.
Start Date
24-4-2015 9:00 AM
End Date
24-4-2015 9:30 AM
Document Type
Presentation
Mitigation and aquifer recharge opportunities in the Clark Fork Basin
Water for new uses -- including development, population growth, and fishery restoration-- is in short supply in the Clark Fork Basin. Basin Closure and over-allocation (when surface water flows are less than existing water rights on a source) require that new and changed water uses develop plans to re-allocate water to eliminate depletions of surface water. Mitigation and aquifer recharge are the two primary mechanisms used to offset surface water depletions and provide a mechanism for new water uses to be permitted. But mitigation and aquifer recharge are far from simple to accomplish.
This project evaluates mitigation opportunities for three examples of new water use in the Basin: New municipal water use in the Bitterroot Basin Closure; new subdivision water use in the Middle Clark Fork where the river is over-allocated due to hydropower water rights; and an instream flow change for fishery habitat restoration in the Upper Clark Fork Basin Closure. The challenges & options for moving forward in each of these situations will be discussed.